Profiles Of The Rich And Famous: State Financial Disclosures Reveal Additional Income For Electeds

State Sen. Toby Stavisky (left) and Assemblywoman
Aravella Simotas had some of the highest additional
sources of income on their disclosure reports.

BY JOE MARVILLIStaff Writer

The 2013 financial disclosure statements for the State Legislature have been released, displaying which investments and income sources Queens’ State Senators and Assemblymembers have aside from their day jobs.

The disclosure statements are required filings for State Legislators each year and come from the State Joint Commission on Public Ethics. On these documents, State Legislators are required to list any income, job positions, retirement plans, securities, stocks and owned property that they have in addition to their role in State government. While no Queens official has as large an outside income as Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who earned up to $750,000 from a law firm, many Borough officials brought in some outside income.

State Sen. Toby Stavisky’s (D-Flushing) financial disclosure statement was notable for the large amount of securities she listed for last year. The senator has several stocks valued between $5,000 and under $20,000 in companies that include American Electric Power, American Express, AT&T, Con Edison, MDU Resources, Microsoft and Verizon. She also has a Biogen stock that is worth between $20,000 and under $50,000. Biogen is an American biotechnology company specializing in drugs for neurological disorders, autoimmune disorders and cancer.

Besides stocks, Stavisky also has bonds with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, a multinational financial services corporation that specializes in retail brokerage, valued between $500,000 and less than $750,000. She also has exchangetraded funds with the company, valued between $150,000 and under $250,000. Stavisky’s investments in Morgan Stanley paid off in 2013, as she listed in her income a totalof $22,000 to $60,000 earnings.

State Sen. Malcolm Smith (DHollis) also listed investments on his disclosure form. The embattled senator has securities in a market value between $5,000 and under $20,000 from Fidelity OTC, International Active Equity, Principal Large CAP, T. Rowe Price Equity and Vanguard Institution Index. His Stable Income Fund is valued between $20,000 and less than $50,000.

State Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) put down some investments as well, specifically noting his stocks in Century Link Inc., valued between $1,000 and less than $5,000, and a mutual fund in Fidelity Large Cap Value worth $5,000 to under $20,000. State Sen. James Sanders’ (DSouth Ozone Park) disclosure form was notable not for what he earned, but for what he owed. According to the document, Sanders said he owes $30,000 to the New York City Campaign Finance Board.

Assemblyman Michael DenDekker earned income in 2013 from acting roles, a longtime hobby of his. Photo courtesy of IMDB.com.

Assemblyman Michael DenDekker (D-East Elmhurst) earned some income for a part-time job, specifically as an actor. He earned a salary in the range of $1,000 to under $5,000 for appearing as an uncredited detective on the CBS Sherlock Holmes series, “Elementary.” According to IMDB. com, DenDekker has appeared in several bit roles in the past, on films such as “Miracle at St. Anna,” (2008) “The Happening,” (2008) “American Gangster” (2007) and “Inside Man” (2006).

DenDekker is also an owner and member of ATL-NYC Productions LLC., a DVD, film and television production and sales company based in Atlanta, Ga.

Another elected official in the Assembly who had a prosperous 2013 is Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas (D-Astoria). She is an active attorney in commercial litigation practices at Bickel & Brewer, a law firm based in Manhattan. The salary of that position earned her income in the range of $100,000 to under $150,000.

The assemblywoman also listed income between $1,000 and under $5,000 from renting out an apartment in Astoria. She owns 4.7 acres of land in Warren, Vt. as well, property she acquired in March 2009. The land’s market value falls between $100,000 and less than $150,000. Simotas is not the only elected official who owns and rents property. Assemblyman William Scarborough (D-Jamaica) owns property in Shokan, NY with his spouse, a market value of $250,000 to under $500,000. For 2013, that property earned him $20,000 to under $50,000 in rent payments.

Assemblymen Michael Miller (D-Woodhaven) and Francisco Moya (D-Jackson Heights) earned income last year from rentals as well. Miller earned between $5,000 and less than $20,000 in rent from an apartment in his primary residence. Moya took in up to $5,000 from his rented-out property located in Long Island City.

Several members of the State Legislature have also supplemented their income with other jobs or work. Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Fresh Meadows) listed himself as a senior vice president of public finance at Sterne, Agee & Leach. This position, which he also described as an investment banker, earned him income in the range of up to under $250,000.